"Your--er--your father--" he began and hesitated.
"Father?
What of him ?" asked Tom, in quick alarm, for he saw that his uncle was much disturbed.
"Isn't he with you ?" "Why, no!" answered the three, in a chorus.
"He started for home last night," added Dick.
"Took the train after the one you and Aunt Martha took." "But he didn't come home," said Randolph Rover.
"Didn't come home ?" "No." "Didn't he send any word ?" questioned Sam.
"None that I received." "He said he was going straight home would telephone from Lockville for the carriage to meet the last train," said Tom.

"This is mighty queer." It was queer and for the moment the Rover boys and their uncle stared blankly at one another.
"Something is wrong," declared Dick, presently.

"And I am going to make it my business to find out at once what it is.".